Mazotos residents protest installation of mobile desalination plant

Residents of the village of Mazotos in the Larnaca district are intensifying protests against the government's decision to install a mobile desalination unit in the Petounta area. Despite official assurances from authorities, locals have established the Initiative Group for the Rescue of the Mazotos Coast to oppose the project.

Eleni Haili, acting as the spokeswoman for the protest group, stated that the installation poses a significant threat to both the terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The primary concerns involve the potential damage to extensive Posidonia seagrass meadows located on the seabed, which serve as vital marine habitats. Residents fear that the discharge of brine and chemical residues from the desalination process will irreversibly harm this pristine coastline, which they claim is the last remaining undeveloped shore in the Larnaca district.

Beyond the local environmental impact, protesters are criticizing the sustainability of the facility, noting that desalination plants are highly energy-intensive and contribute to broader environmental degradation through high electricity demands. The community has rejected any potential compensatory measures, insisting that the ecological value of the area is not for sale. A new series of demonstrations is being organized to take place following the summer period.